Adjustable door tracks for multiple sliding doors and separable suspension device therefor



June 25, 1957 N. GUSSACK 2,796,626

ADJUSTABLE DOOR TRACKS FOR MULTIPLE SLIDING DOORS AND SEPARABLE SUSPENSION DEVICE THEREFOR Filed March 9, 1954 INVENTOR J02; aw

ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE DGOR TRAfiKS FOR M'ULTIPLE SLIDlNG DOORSAND SEPARABLE SUSPEN- SION DEVICE THEREFOR.

Nathan Gnssack, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Grant Pulley & Hardware Corporation, Flushing,; N. Y., a corporation of PJtEW'YDE-ZK Application Marchfi, 1954, Serial No. 415,006

20 Claims. (Cl. 16-34) This invention relates to rollingor sliding doors and, more particularly, to an improved and simplified double or multiple track supporting arrangement for two or more overhead supported sliding doors moving in parallel planes to control a doorway or other-opening.

By the term sliding door as used herein is meant the typeof door which :moves across a doorway in a plane parallel to that of the opening, as distinguished from a hinged door which swings between open and closed positions. Such sliding doors may have sliding engagement with supporting and guiding tracks, but are more commonly mounted on rollers engaged with the tracks.

Sliding doors may be suspended from overhead tracks, supported on a track onthe floor, or guided by both an overhead. track and a floor track. The overhead type of suspension: is generally favored for the reason that there is no obstruction in the doorway at the floor level, which factor is of particular importance in factories and from a .safety standpoint in general. The closure for a doorwaymay comprise a single door, or two or more doors may be suspendedfrom parallel tracks, the number of individual doors being usually dependent upon'the width of the controlled opening.

In the latter case, the supporting tracks for the several doors-must be mounted in parallel, accurately spaced re lation for'prop er operation of the doors in parallel planes with the'designed clearances. The doors are stocked in various thicknesses depending upon such factors as the. door size, type of door, etc; This requires that the lateral spacing of the tracks be coordinated with the thicknesses of the doors to be-supported, inorder to obtain an effective closure when the doors are hung.

In order to obtain and maintain the required accurate lateral spacing of the tracks, it has been necessary'to accurately pre-locate the supporting or attachment positions for the tracks. To prevent undue lateral deflection of the tracks, the latter either must be of a relatively rigid and heavy construction or, if of light construction, must have the attachment points. relatively closely spaced along the track.

To assure maintenance of the required accurate lateral spacing of the two tracks, the latter may be formed as a unit including the two tracks and a horizontal web or bracing interconnecting the tracks. Alternatively, spacers must be used to interconnect the tracks laterally at frequent intervals therealong. Both of these arrangements are relatively expensive due to the necessity for stocking and supplying double tracks of many different widths to accommodate doors of different thicknesses, or to the expense involved in stocking spacers of many diiferent lengths for the same purpose. Additionally, the cost of manufacturing a double track may be considerably more than twice the cost of two single tracks.

The dealers inventory expense could be considerably reduced if only one form of track need be stocked for all thicknesses of doors, and if the spacers could be reduced to a single size usable with all door thicknesses. Additionally, the costs would be reduced due to manufactur- The. trackis made of relatively thin metal.

- v Patented J-une,.25,.19,57

2? ing economies in making only a single size of track anda single size of spacer.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel light weight trackand to a novel universal? spacer usable therewith and serving. also to support the two tracks. The track is generally C-shaped in end elevation with a reversely directed, flange extending I in parallel spaced relation to the upper edge of the C and joined thereto by a narrow vertical web.

This Web is slotted atspaced intervals along the track to receivethe spacers. The latter is in the form of a enerally flat bar or strap having holes therethrough at spaced intervals along its longitudinal center line from one end toward but short of the'other end. Along one edge, adjacent the opposite end, the bar is formed with a series of accurately spaced notches, each having a mark alongside designating a door width. Between the innermost notchand such one end, the notched edge has a tongue stucktherefrom to form an abutment.

Adjacent one end of the bar, the opposite side edge is formed with akeyholeshaped notch comprising an open ended slot leading into a circular notch. This notch receives the curved hinge end of an outwardly bowed spring which extends along the bar edge and has its free endbearing thereagainst.

The width of the spacer strap is slightly less than the lateral width of the slots in the narrow vertical web of the track. To. assemble the strap to the tracks, the unnotched end of the strap is inserted through a slot in one track, until it is flush-- with the back edge of the C. When the strap is so positioned, the parallel flange of the track is deformed into. one of the holes in the strap to lock the spacer to this track.- The adjacent track is then slid onto the spacer strap, with its opening facing outwardly, until its narrow vertical web is aligned with the notch marked with the width of the doors to be hung. During this time, the bowed spring, engaging one edge of the track notch, is biasing the latch bar to engage the opposite edge of the track notch. When the second'track is released, the edge of the track web snaps into the properly selected notch under the force of the spring. This looks thetwo tracks together in accurately'spaced relation coordinated with the door width.

The second track may be additionally locked in position by deforming its uppermost horizontal flange into one of the-holes in the spacer. These holes are so located that one or more holes are disposed between the.

tracks to receive bolts or screws'to mount the double track inposition. The struck-up tongue on the spacer strap serves to limit the approach of the second track toward the first to a value corresponding to the minimum door thickness.

For an understandingof the invention principles, reference is madeto the following description and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view through a double track embodying-the invention;

Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2 illustrating the struck-up tongue;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation view of a door supported on the track;

Fig. 5 is a right end elevation View of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are partial end elevation views of doors supported on the track structure of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the track 10 is generally C-shape in end elevation, with the lower leg of the C forming a channel shape supporting rail 15. The vertical.

leg 11 of the C is laterally offset slightly from rail 15. Wall or leg llhas a relatively sharp junction with the upper leg or wall 12 which terminates in a downwardly directed lip or flange 13. The metal of the track is then reversely bent upwardly to form a narrow vertical web 14 terminating in a horizontal, reversely directed flange 16 extending parallel to upper wall 12. For a purpose to be described, web 14 is formed with longitudinal spaced slots or openings 17 having a depth substantially equal to the spacing of flange 16 from upper wall 12.

Slots 17 receive the spacer bars or straps 20 which are substantially rectangular in cross-section and in plan. Each bar 20 has a series of holes or apertures 21 extending in spaced relation along its longitudinal centerline from one end edge 22 toward the opposite end edge 23. A series of shallow rectangular notches 25 are formed in one side edge 24 adjacent end edge 23. Between the innermost notch 25 and end edge 22, a tongue 26 is struck upwardly from spacer bar 20, along side edge 24, to present an abutment 27 facing end edge 23.

Alongside each notch 25, spacer'20 is marked with indicia corresponding to the several door widths. For example, the outermost notch 25 (Fig. 2) may be marked 1%, and the innermost notch may be marked The opposite side edge 28 of spacer 20, adjacent end edge 23, is formed with a keyhole slot'compn'sing a circular opening 31 communicating with a rectangular openended notch 32. Opening 31 receives the hinge end 33 of an outwardly bowed spring 30 lying alongside edge 28. The bent free end 34 of spring 30 engages side edge 28.

To assemble the track structure, spacer 20, with spring 30 mounted therein, is inserted through a notch 17 in the right hand track (Figs. land 2) until end edge 22 is flush with the outer surface of wall 11 of the track. Flange 16 of the right hand track 10 is then pimpled or deformed into an opening 21 in spacer 20. This locks the spacer to this rail. 7

The left hand track 10 (Figs. 1 and 2) is then slid onto spacer until the narrow web 14 is opposite a notch corresponding to the width of door to be hung. Spacer 20 is then released, whereupon spring forces spacer 20 along track 10 to engage web 14 in the notch 25. This locks the two tracks in accurately spacedrelation. If further locking is desired, flange 16 of the left hand track may also be deformed into an opening 21.

The double track thus formed may then be mounted by bolts, studs or screws inserted through holes 21 between the tracks (Figs. 1 and 6). The spacer 20 thus serves as a mounting means for the tracks as well as a spacer therefor. r

The tracks 10 receive rollers 40 rolling on the rails 15. These rollers are rotatably mounted on rivets 41 adjacent the upper edge 42 of a vertical hanger plate 45,

washers 43 being interposed between each roller and its mounting plate. A hole 44 is formed adjacent the lower edge of each plate 45 and receives a somewhat conical stud 46 having a reduced neck 47 with a head 48 securing the stud to plate 45. V

To mount doors 50, a bracket (Figs. 1, 4, Sand 6) is secured to eachdo'or. Bracket 55 includes an upper vertical wall 56 set inwardly of the door face 51 and joined by a horizontal ledge 57 to a lower vertical wall 58. Wall 58 has parallel, diagonal and longitudinally spaced notches each bounded by a reinforcing rib 53 having vertical extensions 54 reinforcing wall 58. Slots 52 receive screws or bolts 60 for securing bracket 55 to door face 51, the slots providing for vertical adjustment of the door and bracket. V

In positioning the door, an aperture in upper wall 56 is slipped over stud 46. A spring 61 has its bight secured to a pin 62 on wall 56 and its lower arm 63 has an olfset 64 normally lying across the hole in wall 56. When stud 46 enters this hole, arm 63 is biased outwardly and then snaps in back of the conical head of the stud to engage neck 47. e

Figs. 7 and 8 illustratenalternative door brackets. ln

. 7 4 Fig. 7, a plate 65 is secured to the upper edge of the door and has an apertured ofiset portion 66 which receives a stud 67. A nut (not shown) is threaded on stud 67 beneath offset 66, and a lock nut 68 is threaded on the stud above the offset. The upper end of stud 67 is secured to the horizontal leg 71 of a bracket having an apertured vertical leg 72 cooperating with stud 46 m the same manner as does wall 56 of the bracket of Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. By adjustment of the two nuts, the door may be adjusted vertically.

In Fig. 8, a bracket 80 has one leg 81 fixed to the top edge of the door by a screw 83 and its other leg 82 engageable with stud 46 as previously described. This mounting is non-adjustable.

. ing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of O-shapetracks each' including a substantially vertical web extending along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg thereof, said web having at least one slot therein; and spacer means extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with means interengageable with a portion of one track to lock said one track to said spacer means, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation. 2. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of G-shape tracks each including a substantially. vertical web extending along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg thereof, said web having at least one slot therein; and spacer means extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with means interengageable with a portion of one track to lock said one track to said spacer means, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; said spacer means being formed to receive attachment means for mounting said assembly on a support.

3. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of C-shape tracks each including a substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from a substantially vertical web extending along one side edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said web having at least one slot therein having a horizontal edge defined by said flange; and spacer means extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with means interengageable with the flange of one track to lock said one track to said spacer means, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation.

4. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of C-shape tracks each including a substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from a substantially vertical web extending downwardly along one side edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said web having at least one slot therein having a horizontal edge defined by said flange; and spacer means extending through laterally aligned slots in the 'Webs of' both tracks and formed with means interengageable with the flange of one track to lock said one track to said spacer means, and with a plurality of. longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracksin :fixed, laterally spaced relation.

5. An overhead track assembly torsuppo'rting sliding doors 'movable'in parallel-planes, saidassembly comprising, in combination, a pairof C-shape tracks cachincluding a substantially vertical web "extending along the free edge of-the upper horizontal-leg thereof, saidweb having at least one slot therein; an'dspacer means extending throughlaterally aligned slotsl'in'the'webs of both tracks and formed with means interengageable with a .portion of one track to lock said one-track to said spacer means, with a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the'web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed,-laterally spaced'relation; and means on said spacer means engageable with the other track to releasably maintain said stop means engaged with the web of the other track.

6. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movablein parallelplanes, saidassembly comprising, in combination, a pair of'C-shape tracks each in cluding a substantially vertical web extending along the free edge of "the upper "horizontal leg thereof, said web having at leastoneslotthereinyand spacer means extending through laterally aligned'slo'ts in the webs of both tracks and formed with'means interengageable with a portion of one track to" lock 'said' one track to said 'spacer means, with a pluralityof'longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other --track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; and means on said spacer means engageable with the other track to releasably maintain said stop means engaged with the web of the other track; said spacer means being formed to receive attachment means for mounting said assembly on a support.

7. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of C-shape tracks each including a substantially vertical web extending along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg thereof, said web having at least one substantially rectangular slot therein; and a substantially rectangular spacer bar extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with means interengageable with a portion of one track to lock said one track to said spacer bar, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation.

8. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of C-shape tracks each including a substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from a substantially vertical web extending upwardly along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said web having at least one substantially rectangular slot therein having a horizontal edge defined by said flange; and a substantially rectangular spacer bar extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with an aperture interengageable with the flange of one track to lock said one track to said spacer bar, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge selectively engageable with the Web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation.

9. An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of G-shape tracks each including a substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from a substantially vertical web extending upwardly along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said Web having at least one substantially rectangular slot therein having a horizontal edge defined by said flange; and a substantially rectangular spacer bar extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with an aperture interengageable with the flange of one track to lock said one track to said "spacer'bargand with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge selectively engageable with .the web "of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed,

laterally spaced relation; said spacer bar being formed to receive attachment means for mounting said assembly on "a support.

10. -An overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a pair of o-shape tracks each including a substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from a substantially vertical web extending upwardly along thefree edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said web having at least one substantially rectangular slot therein having a horizontaledge defined by said .flange; and a substantially rectangular spacer bar extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and'formed with anaperture interengageable with the flange of one track to'lock said one track to said spacer bar,'and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; -said spacer bar being formed with apertures therethrough to receive attachment means for mounting said assembly on a support.

'11. An overhead track assemblyfor supporting sliding dOors movable in parallel planes, said assembly comprising, in combination, a-pair of C-shape tracks each includinga substantially horizontal flange projecting inwardly from-a substantially vertical Web extending upwardly along the free edge of the upper horizontal leg of the track, said web having at least one substantially rectangular slot therein having a horizontal edge defined by said flange; a substantially rectangular spacer bar extending through laterally aligned slots in the webs of both tracks and formed with an aperture interengageable with the flange of one rail to lock said one rail to said spacer bar, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; said bar having a width somewhat less than that of said slots; and spring means extending along the other side edge of said bar and engageable with the web of such other track to releasably maintain a notch engaged therewith.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which said bar has an upstruck tongue engageable with the flange of the other track to set the minimum spacing of said tracks.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which said bar has a keyhole shaped notch in its other side edge and said spring means is a leaf spring having a hinge end received in said keyhole shaped notch and a free end engaging said other side edge.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which said bar has a keyhole shaped notch in its other side edge and said spring means is a leaf spring having a hinge end received in said keyhole shaped notch and a free end engaging said other side edge; and said bar has an upstruck tongue engageable with the flange of the other track to set the minimum spacing of said tracks.

15. For use in an overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, a substan tially rectangular flat spacer bar extendable through laterally aligned slots in vertical webs extending from the free edges of the upper horizontal legs of a pair of laterally spaced identical C-shape tracks each having a horizontal flange extending from the upper edge of such web; said bar being formed with an aperture adjacent one end arranged to have the flange of one track deformed thereinto to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge only adjacent its other end selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation.

16. For use in an overhead track assembly for supporting sliding doors movable in parallel planes, a substanally spaced'identical C shape tracks each having a hori zontal flange extending from the upper edge of such web; said bar being formed with an aperture adjacent one end arranged to have the flange of one track deformed thereinto to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation, and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge only adjacent its other end selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; said spacer bar being formed with apertures therethrough intermediate its ends to receive attachment means for mounting said assembly on a support.

into to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation,

and with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along one side edge only adjacent its other end selectively engageable with the web of the other track to lock said tracks in fixed, laterally spaced relation; said bar having a width somewhat less than that of said slots; and spring means extending'along the other side edge of said bar and engageable with the web of such other track to releasably maintain a notch engaged therewith.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 17 in which said bar has an upstruck tongue engageable with the flange of the other track to set the minimum spacing of said tracks.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 17 in which said bar and a keyhole shaped notch in its other side edge and said spring means is a leaf spring having a hinge end received in said keyhole shaped notch and a free end engaging said other side edge.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 17 in' which said bar has a keyhole shaped notch in its other side edge and said spring means is a leaf spring having a hinge end received in said keyholeshaped notch and a free end engaging said other side edge; and said bar has an upstruck tongue engageable' with the flange of the other track to set the minimum spacing of said tracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,482 Halton May 9, 1899 2,066,994 Moore Jan. 5, 1937 2,293,841 Long Aug. 25, 1942 2,649,612 Loomis Aug. 25, 1953 2,653,344 Graber Sept. 29, 1953 2,670,496 Knight Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 830,390 Germany Feb. 4, 1952 

